Per Cris Collinsworth Via Rotoworld...

[Daytona1]

Josh Freeman has been organizing offseason workouts with his Bucs teammates since late March.

We haven't heard of any teams starting so early. "You have got to be up to speed and be ready to go out and win football games," said Freeman. "And we're taking steps right now to be in a position like that." Freeman just turned 23 and is entering just his third NFL season, second as a full-time starter. NBC's Cris Collinsworth recently ranked Freeman as the ninth best quarterback in the league, ahead of Matt Ryan and Eli Manning, among others

This guy really thinks Freeman is better then Ryan?!?!?! Eli Manning blows, but Ryan!?!? Hmmmm...I dont think so.. Freeman is definitely top 15 though, and has a cannon arm, but not the smarts of Ryan

[paulitik]

I called him out on Twitter. Collinsworth said it was all of Freeman's "late game heroics". He obviously has never watched Matt play.

I hate that tool. I can't believe he replaced Madden.

[Daytona1]

I called him out on Twitter. Collinsworth said it was all of Freeman's "late game heroics". He obviously has never watched Matt play.

I hate that tool. I can't believe he replaced Madden.

Lol....yeah he is so clutch that Grimes owned his a$$ on 2 interceptions. PSH

[UnderDawgsUnite]

Josh Freeman has been organizing offseason workouts with his Bucs teammates since late March.

We haven't heard of any teams starting so early. "You have got to be up to speed and be ready to go out and win football games," said Freeman. "And we're taking steps right now to be in a position like that." Freeman just turned 23 and is entering just his third NFL season, second as a full-time starter. NBC's Cris Collinsworth recently ranked Freeman as the ninth best quarterback in the league, ahead of Matt Ryan and Eli Manning, among others

This guy really thinks Freeman is better then Ryan?!?!?! Eli Manning blows, but Ryan!?!? Hmmmm...I dont think so.. Freeman is definitely top 15 though, and has a cannon arm, but not the smarts of Ryan

just curious as to why you feel his football intelligence and decision making isn't as good as Ryan's?? That is what you meant by "Smarts", right??? :blink:

[DirtyBirdSupabowl]

It's all good Collinsworth will see enough of Matt on SNF this year.

[Big Bubba]

What about Freeman makes you believe his "Smarts" aren't as good as Ryan's "smarts"?

He looked pretty smart on the field last season.. About the same as Ryan.

[MSalmon]

What about Freeman makes you believe his "Smarts" aren't as good as Ryan's "smarts"?

He looked pretty smart on the field last season.. About the same as Ryan.

Not really. He's a good player. Has a better physical skills than Ryan, but he's not nearly as cerebral and I haven't seen the type of maturity and leadership that Ryan has yet. Will he become a better leader, as he matures? Sure it's possible. But he's not on Ryan's level, and probably never will be

[FalconFromSpain]

Smarts is what you call a late hit on a guy that is 6 inches shorter than you when is out of bounds and picked you on a game sealing interception.

[THE ICEMAN]

Why Freeman is not nowhere near as good as Ryan

Ryan is 33-13 as a starter - He also has 13 4th Quarter Comebacks or game wining drives 7 last year and has as many wining as Dan Marino threw 3 years the kid on pace for not just H-O-F numbers but to be an All Time Great

Freeman is 13-13 as a starter - He has 7 4th Quarter Comebacks 4 last year and has only beaten 1 team with a winning record. He is also O-4 against the Falcons

At the End of the Day Ryan has twice as many Comebacks as Freeman and as many last year as Freeman has in his Career. Ryan also has more than twice as many wins as Freeman and Freeman has only a .500 wining record and his poor play in 09 land them Gerald McCoy this isn't even a debate who's better let Freeman go beat some good teams first and make the playoffs and then maybe they can even match up then we'll see who's better

[BleedBlack&Red]

Why Freeman is not nowhere near as good as Ryan

Ryan is 33-13 as a starter - He also has 13 4th Quarter Comebacks or game wining drives 7 last year and has as many wining as Dan Marino threw 3 years the kid on pace for not just H-O-F numbers but to be an All Time Great

Freeman is 13-13 as a starter - He has 7 4th Quarter Comebacks 4 last year and has only beaten 1 team with a winning record. He is also O-4 against the Falcons

At the End of the Day Ryan has twice as many Comebacks as Freeman and as many last year as Freeman has in his Career. Ryan also has more than twice as many wins as Freeman and Freeman has only a .500 wining record and his poor play in 09 land them Gerald McCoy this isn't even a debate who's better let Freeman go beat some good teams first and make the playoffs and then maybe they can even match up then we'll see who's better

The End. Ok guys thats a rap, Ryan is better then Freeman, time for a new thread.

Had to edit to +1 for the clutch coparison.

Edited May 24, 2011 by BleedBlack&Red

[high impact]

I am not sure on this but has Collinsworthless ever gotten anything correct in his life? He is so messed up, please get him some help.....somebody!

[falcon70]

The End. Ok guys thats a rap, Ryan is better then Freeman, time for a new thread.

Had to edit to +1 for the clutch coparison.

Gotta disagree.

If we had Freeman on the field last year in the playoffs against Green Bay we would have at least had a puncher's chance to get back in the ball game. This guy can stretch the field and you don't have to make bizarre trades to coddle this young man.

I think Collinsworth might be on to something here.

[high impact]

Gotta disagree.

If we had Freeman on the field last year in the playoffs against Green Bay we would have at least had a puncher's chance to get back in the ball game. This guy can stretch the field and you don't have to make bizarre trades to coddle this young man.

I think Collinsworth might be on to something here.

Can’t you just say no to drugs!!!!!!!! :wacko:

[Quarterback]

CC just sounds dumb to me so I never take anything he says seriously at all.

Frankly, after decades of professional, intelligent and well spoken broadcasters, color commentators and former players like Curt Gowdy, Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, **** Enberg, Jim Nantz, Troy Aikman, Greg Gumbel, Pat Summerall, James Brown, etc., I am absolutely appalled listening to the incessant babbling and slaughtering of the English language from people like Charles Barkley, Chris Collinsworth, Michael Irving, Deion Sanders, Warren Sapp, Terry Bradshaw, or Steve Mariucci.

I mean how much weight gain and DUI's for Barkley, or how many cocaine convictions for Irving, are necessary to get these guys off the TV?

I'll tell you a couple of former athletes that I really like that speak intelligently and articulately and that is Charles Davis and Robert Smith. I think Charles Davis is the next star from a former player perspective. The guy has a Masters in History and it shows.

[Quarterback]

Gotta disagree.

If we had Freeman on the field last year in the playoffs against Green Bay we would have at least had a puncher's chance to get back in the ball game. This guy can stretch the field and you don't have to make bizarre trades to coddle this young man.

I think Collinsworth might be on to something here.

You mean the same QB who lost at home to the Detroit Lions in a game that would have qualified them for the playoffs? That Josh Freeman? Sure, I see your point. Even though he couldn't handle the Lions at home in a must win game he most certainly would have kept the Packers out of the Super Bowl.

[Tax-Falcon]

Freeman isn't as "cerebral" as Ryan? Um, I've seen Ryan make some pretty dumbass throws - Freeman's a good quarterback. Stop trying to discredit him by saying completely unfounded things.

[Quarterback]

On the Wonderlic scores Freeman had a 27 and Ryan a 32 tying Brian Brohm with the highest for all QB's in the 2008, so neither lacks the necessary cerebral capacity to be an NFL QB.

My seats are on row one near midfield on the visitor's side so I get the opportunity to watch our opponent's players just a few feet away. In observing Josh Freeman, like Matt Ryan he is a natural leader, is constantly roaming the sidelines encouraging his teammates, and has the unwavering respect from his teammates.

Both will be solid QB's in this league for many years and the first one to lead his team deep into the playoffs and win a championship will take the lead in the best QB discussion...as Aaron Rodgers did this year with Green Bay.

Who's the best? Let it be decided on the field!

[ironhead1970]

Not really. He's a good player. Has a better physical skills than Ryan, but he's not nearly as cerebral and I haven't seen the type of maturity and leadership that Ryan has yet. Will he become a better leader, as he matures? Sure it's possible. But he's not on Ryan's level, and probably never will be

BINGO!

[bucspirate]

Freeman, Matt Ryan, and Sam Bradford are the up and comers at the QB position. Freeman and Bradford have been asked to to carry teams that weren't as talented over the last few years, so the argument that Ryan is better just because of the record is somewhat flawed. Atlanta seems to be looking to show that Ryan can carry the team through the passing game. It will be interesting to see what exactly your offense is this year.

Edited May 24, 2011 by bucspirate

[bucspirate]

Last year Matt Ryan hit 32 passes over 20 yards. Josh Freeman hit 45 passes over 20 yards. You guys blame it on your receiving options, but in Tampa our top 3 WR's were 2 rookies and a journey man kick returner in Michael Spurlock.

Matt Ryan is a clutch player, no argument. The 3rd and 20 conversion against Tampa was a great play, a lot like the play he made to steal the game against Chicago his rookie year. Still you'd like to see Ryan make plays more consistently if you're going to call him a top QB. I do think Atlanta needs to tweek their offense slightly to get the most of Ryan, but IMO I don't think they're going about it the right way putting all of their eggs in the basket of a rookie WR.

Edited May 24, 2011 by bucspirate

[Dominique is Manufique]

Last year Matt Ryan hit 32 passes over 20 yards. Josh Freeman hit 45 passes over 20 yards. You guys blame it on your receiving options, but in Tampa our top 3 WR's were 2 rookies and a journey man kick returner in Michael Spurlock.

Matt Ryan is a clutch player, no argument. The 3rd and 20 conversion against Tampa was a great play, a lot like the play he made to steal the game against Chicago his rookie year. Still you'd like to see Ryan make plays more consistently if you're going to call him a top QB. I do think Atlanta needs to tweek their offense slightly to get the most of Ryan, but IMO I don't think they're going about it the right way putting all of their eggs in the basket of a rookie WR.

i don't see a lot of eggs in one basket. i see a returning pro bowl WR, a stud rookie WR, a solid third WR in jenkins, oh by the way a future first ballot HOFer TE, and a quick elusive rookie RB coming out of the back field for flats and screen passes.

how is this putting all eggs in one basket?

other than that, you make some good points.

[bucspirate]

You have 3 very good offensive lineman who are going to be Free Agents, 2 of them borderline all pros. Your HOF TE is probably in his last year. I know you guys are tired of this debate, but you could have Carimi, Greg Little, and DJ Miller and still had next years 1st and 4th. Julio Jones basically has to be a stud early in his career, and enough of a stud to offset any drop off in your line play or in Gonzo's game. That's what I mean by all the eggs in one basket.

Even beyond offense you could stand to supplement every level of your defense. I know a lot of you on the board think that your offense is going to be on par with the Colts and Patriots, but again that's putting your eggs in the offensive basket, and expecting a rookie WR and RB to push you into a top 3 offense may be a little much. Also the Patriots and Colts only won Superbowls when their defenses were top notch.

Personally I think Ryan is very good at everything, but not necessarily great at anything. He's mobile, but not necessarily scary when he breaks the pocket. He's accruate, but not pinpoint accruate like Rodgers, Brady, or Bradford. I think his intelligence is underutlized in your offense as far as pre-snap reads and audibles, and maybe this year he'll do more of that. Still IMHO the path the Falcons should be following for Superbowl Contention is trying to get as many top notch players as possible, especially on Defense. Your defensive roster right now does not have the potential to be championship caliber even if Ryan plays like Brady, Manning, or Rodgers.

Edited May 24, 2011 by bucspirate

[Pacific_Falcon]

Gotta disagree.

If we had Freeman on the field last year in the playoffs against Green Bay we would have at least had a puncher's chance to get back in the ball game. This guy can stretch the field and you don't have to make bizarre trades to coddle this young man.

I think Collinsworth might be on to something here.

DING! FRIES ARE DONE! DING! FRIES ARE DONE!

[bucspirate]

Gotta disagree.

If we had Freeman on the field last year in the playoffs against Green Bay we would have at least had a puncher's chance to get back in the ball game. This guy can stretch the field and you don't have to make bizarre trades to coddle this young man.

I think Collinsworth might be on to something here.

I don't think Matt Ryan was your problem against Green Bay. Ryan, White, Abraham, and Grimes are enough on par with Rodgers, Jennings, Mathews, and Woodson.

Your problem was that going farther down the roster they were way better than you across the board with players like Driver, Jones, Nelson and especially on defense with Collins, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, and Beast J Raji.

You guys need to upgrade multiple positions to compete for a Superbowl.

Edited May 24, 2011 by bucspirate

[Big Bubba]

I'm still wondering about the "Smarts" thing.

Is it really "cerebral" to be afraid to tempt fate by throwing the ball down the field a lot?

Is it "cerebral" to have an all pro RB, WR and TE that can run through or in the TE/WR's case, catch everything thrown their way?

Freeman, with a rookie WR and RB, upped his teams record from 3-13 the previous season, to 10-6 last season. Once his Oline gels a little more, I think the kid will have a better record than Ryan. Since, apparently, wins are what a qb gets all the credit for. Which is kind of messed up, since not many people put the blame on Ryan's shoulders for those two playoff blunders against the Cardinals and Packers, in '08 and '10.